# September 23, 2026 - Hendersonville City Council Meeting

**Body:** City of Hendersonville — City Council
**Date:** September 22, 2026 8:00 PM EDT (2026-09-22T20:00:00-04:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2998

## Summary

**Hendersonville City Council Meeting Recap: September 23, 2026**

The Hendersonville City Council convened on September 23, 2026, presided over by Mayor Pro Tem, to address critical infrastructure recovery and preservation initiatives following the damage from Hurricane Helene. The meeting focused on three primary areas: applications for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, a proposed farmland preservation bond referendum, and design updates for Patton Park and the Whitmer Community Center. The Council approved the agenda and the consent agenda as presented. Three public hearings regarding the CDBG grant applications were opened and subsequently closed; however, no action was taken on the grants at this time, as they remain pending further review. There were no motions, votes, or specific directions to staff regarding the Farmland Preservation Bond or the design updates during this session.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing CDBG grant applications submitted to the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Renew NC Infrastructure Program. Blake Fulgham presented details on three requests totaling substantial funding for wastewater treatment, Patton Park, and the Whitmer Activity Center. The wastewater facility application seeks $15 million to restore a facility submerged 9.5 feet, with a six-year completion window. The Patton Park and Pool project requests $15 million toward an estimated $40.6 million scope, including site grading, pool repair, and stream restoration. The Whitmer Activity Center application requests less than the full award for an $8.1 million project involving rebuilding and parking improvements. Fulgham noted that these projects qualify for up to 100% funding with no match requirement, provided Henderson County remains a HUD-identified distressed county.

The Council also heard presentations on a proposed $25 million general obligation bond for Henderson County Farmland Preservation, presented by Jeff Chandler and Angela Price. This bond, slated for a November vote, aims to preserve open space, forests, and farmland by compensating landowners for extinguishing development rights. Chandler highlighted that the county lost 20% of its farmland between 2017 and 2022, stating, "We feel like the time is now." The tax impact is estimated at roughly one cent per $100 of property value, or approximately $38 per year for a median household. Additionally, Richard provided a schematic design review for the reconstruction of Patton Park, Patton Pool, and the Whitmer Community Center. The designs include flood mitigation sloughs, a 30,000 sq. ft. skate park, a new 50-meter outdoor pool, and an 8,000 sq. ft. Whitmer Community Center. The estimated cost for Patton Park/Pool is $33 million, with an additional $7 million option for a future Dynadome.

Public comment was solicited during the meeting, but no members of the public signed up to speak. Council members provided informal feedback on the design presentations, focusing on aesthetic and maintenance concerns. One speaker expressed a preference for materials similar to the existing "putt-putt" course and favored including water slides, while noting a dislike for brick exterior options. Another speaker raised concerns about the maintenance of glass-heavy designs, specifically the Dynadome and large windows, citing difficulties with cleaning high windows and potential leakage, and preferred gable roof designs for better runoff. A third speaker acknowledged these maintenance concerns but expressed a personal preference for glass and natural light. A fourth speaker suggested that aesthetic decisions should be left to the architect to ensure compatibility with existing structures like Edwards Park.

Following the meeting, specific follow-up actions were identified. Richard agreed to provide information on the typical lifespan and maintenance requirements of Dynadomes, as requested by a Council member. Staff will provide a more detailed financial update, including impacts from FEMA, CDBG, and local funding, at the December 2026 meeting. The projects are expected to be an item on the 2027 Council Retreat. The Mayor Pro Tem also noted ongoing efforts to find partners, such as the YMCA Henderson County, to help expand the aquatic facilities. No further actions were taken regarding the Farmland Bond or the finalization of design choices during this meeting.

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQpgArY4eAY
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/2130/segments

## Sources

- [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQpgArY4eAY)